More than 100 persons killed in explosion at Paravur Temple

A massive explosion in a storehouse packed with firecrackers killed more than 100 persons and injured scores of others at the Paravur Puttingal Devi temple Temple in the southern Indian State of Kerala early morning today.

The explosion was so huge that many persons died on the spot and a lot of others were declared brought dead on being rushed to hospital.

The crackers were brought to the temple for a fireworks ceremony held to mark the annual temple festival. Reports indicate that the sparks and burning splinters from the fireworks ignited the firecrackers in the storehouse causing the huge explosion that even ripped apart the temple’s administrative office. It is learnt that the district collector had denied permission to burst crackers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each to next of kin of those killed in the temple fire and Rs. 50,000 for the injured.